draxil

Really memorable DVNE gig, supported by Pijn on Sunday at Soup. Soup being basically: a tiny basement in the Northern Quarter in Manchester. So basically an ideal venue.

Before both was a slightly delightful local band who missed being able to say their name clearly (surely the most important skill when you are in that slot?). I say delightful it was a case of personality over talent but they were still delightful.


Pijn were just amazing, to the extent I kinda thought Dvne might actually be a bit of a let-down after that. I must note that Pijn had incredible lighting that I thought was just the state of Soup's lighting; mostly dark but with the bass player well illuminated. But DVNE were all well lit so I guess it was an artistic choice? Anyway: Pijn made a delightful noise and it was good to see them up close, previous time I saw them was on the big stage at Arctangent.

Dvne though really shone as the stars, and making the most of the compressed basement atmosphere. Really just a whole room carried on the tide of sound. The contrast between the two vocalists (the female voice not being present for whatever reason) worked better than ever when you're just a foot away from them. And really giving it all.

If either of these accidentally gets to the stage where they don't play these kinds of venue I really will remember just how good this was.

Went to see Molchat Doma at the night & day in Manchester last night. Did make me think that access to such places is something I do miss about living in the city (although obvsiously, can still get there!). Also, I've never hung out in the night & day, in the day! I'm going to have to try and spend some time in there some time. Looks like a nice place to work and get some food.

Partly writing this to try and make myself pop in there more!

Saw the Soulsavers and Mark Lanegan last night at the Ruby Lounge. The gig was excellent; the Soulsavers turned out to be excellent musicians, and Mark was on form, complete with his marvellous gravelly voice.

I must also mention how good the Ruby lounge is! Although it took a mo to find due to not being where google thought it was, it was a fine venue with good sound and a good atmosphere. However top mention must be saved for their bottled beers! A gig venue with nice beer is practically unheard of, but they had a nice selection of Ale in bottles including Bishops Finger and Black Sheep.

Excellent stuff!

So I'm quite enjoying living and working at home. I'm sort of in London one day a week, which is nice. Our new house in manchester seems to be coming along. We've filed paperwork and things, still waiting for our landlady to tell them that we're not (too) evil.. Hopefully we'll have a move in date before *too* long. The wierdness of myself the kr0n and solidcat not being under the same roof can't go on for long (especially as I still actually have to be under the same roof as solidcat).

Enjoying the entertainment funs of Leamington Spa which have increased since I lived here. I went to see the Holloways the other night at Leam's very own new gig venue. It's totally disproportiantly big, and seems to be run by people who wouldn't know how to make money out of a gold mine.. But it's very convenient. All it needs is to start selling something drinkable, but then, it *is* a gig venue so I shouldn't set my sights so high.

Nipped back to the homeland last night and went to an excellent Nizlopi gig at Warwick Arts Center.

The gig was in the theater which is a strange place for a gig let alone a Nizlopi one. Fortunaetly people were out of their seats and dancing around the auditorium by song #1! This was much to the discust of the Arts Centre Natzis (sorry, ushers). We had to employ some sneaky tactics to get past them at one point.

Anyway, an excellent gig and a good chance to catch up with the Shire folk!

Just been to see Low in a church. Pretty good gig. Even better beer in the beer-o-drome before/afterwards.

The union chapel is an amazing venue for a certain kind of band. Excellent acoustics, cunningly hidden bar.

In short: Reading 2007. Awesome.

Despite pre-festival scare stories about the flooding from the river the weather was great (but not so hot that it killed). The Best Pub In The World™ was well on form ( mmmmmmm Dr Hexters Wedding.... ), the BHS cooked breakfasts were juicy and of course there was some music as well.

On the first (music) night we arrived back from the Pub just in time for a storming set by the Subways, which was followed by a possibly even more storming performance by The Living End ( including the sillyness of a guitarist playing a guitar solo from on top of the double bass which was obviously still being played at the time ). That twosome wasn't really topped all weekend, although there were several near misses.

The first few days of headliners were pretty rubbish. We did briefly go look at the Chillies who I always really want to be excellent, but actually were as disappointing as ever so we left.. That enabled us to see some fantastic stuff in the "Alternative" tent. I have no idea who either of the bands in there were (damn not saying your name..). The first of them was a very (proper) edgy talented indie outfit who did live visuals on the screens ( playing speed chess, ripping up flowers, flicking through a photo scrapbook). The second band in there was a very cool instrumental rock band who I'd love to see again. If I knew who they were..

The last day however made up for the first-two in main stage headliner-ness, as NIN and the pumpkins fantastic.

The camping antics were on top form this year as well. We were camped with a dynamic group ranging from the wiggi to a bunch of private school girls who came with my brother ( kindof a buy one get one free ). The atmosphere on site was really good, and the last night rubbish-bin-drum-parties were fantastic ( although the overly officious & grumpy Scottish security may not agree ).

Can't wait for next year :)

Screw this contract for a game of soldiers. I'm taking some time off to go to a gig!

So far this weekend has felt like a festival! Which is good.

The party/gig on Friday was really cool. We got there at about 9:00 and it ran till about 3:00/3:30. In the intervening period we saw about 3-4 bands, including the headliners Biffy Clyro. In between was filled by fairly shite indie djs who thought they were gods.. The beer was awful and expensive, but plentiful and a pre-gig trip to Quinns helped ensure we were very drunk by the end of it all.

Last night's Deftones gig was defiantly one of the best gigs I've been to in a long while, although it is largely responsible for my injured state now. They played a good set and the atmosphere in the Brixton Academy was electric. I hurt now.